New here, scared and numb

Momandwife36

hey all, was wondering if anyone else has any words of advice regarding numbness after a mastectomy and lymph node Biopsy? Days after my surgery, the back of my arm (armpit side incision) has gone completely numb, then crept up my shoulder and across the skin of my chest and now covers a large area of my torso. The whole area now feels completely numb and when I touch myself, it feels as though I'm touching someone else. My doctor said she doesn't know why, but since I still have my arm function, I shouldn't worry about it. Has anyone had anything similar happen to them?

nye1980

I had my mastectomy in June and definitely have areas of numbness on my arm. Never really thought about it since I can move my arm pretty well.

NancyHB

I developed weird areas of numbness in the hours and days after my UMX and DIEP reconstruction - down my arm and into my thumb/first finger of the affected arm, and parts of my shoulder/back. My surgeon said it should resolve itself over a few weeks and was due to the position of my arm during surgery (pinched nerves/swelling/etc.) It took a couple of weeks and seemed to get worse before better, but it finally did resolve (although my thumb will, from time to time, still go completely numb). Not sure if this is what you're experiencing but I thought I'd throw it out there just in case.

Momandwife36

thank you so much for your reply, this actually helps!

CFed89

I had my surgery mid august and still have numbness throughout the back of my upper arm. I asked my lymphedema therapist today why and she said that when they go in to remove the nodes the nerves may also be cut and that it could take a year or more to start gaining sensation back. Perhaps this may be what is happening to you...

Momandwife36

thank you cfed, this helps a lot

littleblueflowers

Yup, expect to be numb. Some of the nerves may grow back, but not many. The back of my left arm, left arm pit, and scar on the left are all numb. The scar on the right is numb. Have you ever skinned an elk? Thats basically what they do to you, seperating all the flesh from muscle and skin. Really pretty cool, when you think about it, that your surgeon has the skills to do that to save you!

mustlovepoodles

My entire chest is numb, as are both armpits. I still have numbness going down the underside of my right arm (zombie side), but it's getting better. The one area that is maddeningly numb is an area about 6" wide that goes from my left hip to my left knee.  My MO and BS swear they don't know anything about it, but it started the morning after the BMX. I even saw a neurologist about it. He believes that someone probably either leaned on my hip for an extended time or they strapped me down too tightly at the hips.  I'm 8 months post-BMX and it is only marginally better. 

Momandwife36

I'm holding out hope that the feeling will come back, since I did have feeling up to 4-5 days after my surgery...then it just went away suddenly. But I suppose I'll trade my nerves for my life!

LADYnKY

I too have numbness since my bmx in June. Basically where my bra line would be as it wraps around my back. Under my arms along my armpits also. No feeling on my actual breasts either.

Momandwife36

ladynky, that is exactly where I lost feeling at the end of September. I've started to get used to it although it's still bugs that I can't feel my deodorant going on... did you wake up with the feeling gone, or did the feeling gradually leave?